Culture

Scratch the surface and you’ll discover that Essex is abundant with culture and heritage...

Castles such as Colchester and Hedingham tower over our ancient landscape and museums in Braintree, Saffron Walden and Chelmsford provide welcome spaces to wander, learn and play.  Art galleries such as Focal Point in Southend and award-winning Firstsite in Colchester draw crowds to their ground-breaking exhibitions and medieval guildhalls in Thaxted and Finchingfield tell of our industrial past.  

Music and theatre is performed across the county in first class venues such as Saffron Hall, Mercury Theatre and Cliffs Pavilion and famous folk called Essex their home both in the past and today: composer Gustav Holtz wrote The Planets in Thaxted, artist Grayson Perry delivered newspapers as a boy in Great Bardfield and author Sarah Perry (no relation) was born and raised in Chelmsford. 

A county of contrasts, you’ll find the first and oldest recorded town – Colchester – and the newest City – Chelmsford, soon to be joined by the city of Southend.  

Follow one of our itineraries below or use the 'My Planner' at the top of the page to build your own.